The inventors of pixelstick have launched a new Kickstarter campaign to fund their latest creation: a strip of LEDs they're calling the 'colorspike.' Like the pixelstick, it can be controlled via an app to produce a range of effects; unlike the pixelstick, the colorspike panel is more about lighting and color than it is about fun effects or light painting.

At about two feet long, the colorspike consists of a strip of LED lights that the user can program to produce a massive range of different colors and pulsating lighting effects. The results, when used in concert with, say, portrait photography, can be striking:

The idea is that stills and video photographers can use these to add easily controlled color to their shoots, while videographers can also include flashing lights to emulate emergency vehicles, fire, lightning and any interrupted lighting.

The colorspike panels are controlled via a smartphone app that allows colors and effects to be selected from an existing menu or to be custom mixed for the occasion (and saved for later use). Finally, groups of color spikes can be controlled together from the app to create more complex set-ups, and users can determine brightness, color and pulsation patterns via the app or the interface on the panel itself.

For on-location shooting, a battery is supplied that the company claims will last at least 45 minutes; and for those working near a mains power supply, a DC adapter also comes included the kit.

The colorspike is being launched on Kickstarter with a price of $270, and kits of four can be had for the discounted price of $1,000. The company, Bitbanger, expects delivery to begin in March next year if the target of $120,000 is reached—and given they've already reached over half of that goal with a full 42 days left in the campaign, chances are good the colorspike will become a reality

Comments

I'm interested in buying 3 units for some shoots. but.... am noticing Bitbanger is not responding to enquiries on their website or socials lately since the fall. they did do a post on their kickstarter saying they are making progress. but.. i'm starting to worry. hope they are ok and real, without some clarity this is for real and in production (soon or now), i don't want to put $$ down. Too many red flags.

OK. Just one thought. This stick is quite colorful. So - it can create interesting colorful results. Normally photo lighting consists of warm white to cold white lamps that you can mix to diverse color temperatures.

I assume then, that this colorful product strongest niche is not to create super accurate photo lighting, but rather to create effect lighting.

This looks really good, i currently use a Yongnuo Yn360 which isn't great but it does the job for now. will be looking forward to purchasing one of these new lights though as would be perfect for my needs.

Bitbanger, don't let the naysayers bother you. There have been a lot of duds and frauds on Kickstarter and IndieGogo, but you guys have a history of 2 former products. Do don't let anything bother you.

As a sign engineer other than the app there's nothing here that you couldn't throw together for far less than their price, that includes a remote to set what ever colour and brightness you want ( within the limits of which ever led's are used for brightness ) I could make one for £30, if better brighter led's are used obviously the cost would be higher depending on led's used also depending on battery size or easier mains fed to keep costs a little lower but still nowhere near their $270, obviously it's the app you're really paying for, as the old saying goes an stands extremely well for kickstarter fools and money are easily parted

@steviewa... That's $40 in raw parts. How long would it take you to build one?

I'm told in general that the retail price of a product should always be more than double the cost of the parts used to assemble it.

As for the app, here in Silicon Valley STARTING salary for a junior frontend engineer here in Silicon Valley is $80,000USD (it's ridiculous yes, but it is what it is). That isn't even for someone who went to a four year college studying computer science, that is for someone who went to a code academy for all of 6 months and know as much programming like you know French from your high school foreign language classes. Let alone someone trained in Mobile app development (a more valuable and more expensive skill). Of course the app might STILL suck even after paying a Mobile app developer that much money.

Hey there - colorspike creators here! We actually *have* created a product, pixelstick, in exactly this way. In 2013 we were as we are now - 2 people with a lot of expertise in hardware, software, and photography. Our products are niche and Kickstarter has proven to be the best way to get a product produced and into the hands of the people who want it.

I understand your trepidation, but it's important to convey that we've spent 2 years iterating on design and rewriting software so that when the time came to bring it to the photography community, the only thing left to do was to get it manufactured. We have already solved all of the engineering and software issues and our prototypes are not only ready for manufacture, but were used with shippable software to create the video you see in the campaign.

Without this model, tiny companies with good ideas would have a much more difficult, and in many cases impassible, road to delivery. The success of pixelstick is good evidence for this.

Except in our case we can actually back it up. Like I said, we did this before and managed to ship a really cool tool that exceeded expectations. Long after we exited Kickstarter and shipped to backers, this is the kind of press we were getting on a product that simply would not have been possible without that model:

The fact is, we are a two person company, and neither of us had the hundreds of thousands of dollars required to mass produce a product. Traditional investment is not interested in niche products like this.

Latest in-depth reviews

The Hasselblad X1D-50c is a mirrorless medium format camera from one of the most famous camera brands of the 20th century. Following a series of feature-enhancing firmware updates we've been able to complete our review.

The LG G7 ThinQ is a flagship device with a dual camera that departs from the norm: rather than the usual tele/wide combo, it offers wide and super-wide angle lenses. While it doesn't produce class-leading image quality, it's a solid option if you favor wide-angle shooting.

The Fujifilm X-T100 is the company's least expensive X-series camera to include an electronic viewfinder. It shares most of its guts with the entry-level X-A5, including its hybrid AF system and 24MP sensor and, unfortunately, its 4K/15p video mode.

Whether you're hitting the beach in the Northern Hemisphere or the ski slopes in the Southern, a rugged compact camera makes a great companion. In this buying guide we've taken a look at seven current models and chosen our favorites.

What's the best camera for a parent? The best cameras for shooting kids and family must have fast autofocus, good low-light image quality and great video. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for parents, and recommended the best.

What's the best camera for shooting landscapes? High resolution, weather-sealed bodies and wide dynamic range are all important. In this buying guide we've rounded-up several great cameras for shooting landscapes, and recommended the best.

What’s the best camera costing over $2000? The best high-end camera costing more than $2000 should have plenty of resolution, exceptional build quality, good 4K video capture and top-notch autofocus for advanced and professional users. In this buying guide we’ve rounded up all the current interchangeable lens cameras costing over $2000 and recommended the best.

Alex and Kathryn are photographers, friends and Tokyo residents who love exploring Japan's hidden cultural treasures. They each brought a Canon EOS M50 on a recent trip starting in bustling Tokyo and ending in the peaceful riverside town of Gujo Hachiman.

Canon's latest 70-200mm F4L comes with a five stops of image stabilization, a new coat of paint and impressive sharpness. We've been shooting with our copy for several weeks now - see how it stacks up in our sample gallery.

Special 4K and 6K Photo modes may be one of the most under-appreciated features on recent cameras. In this week's episode, Chris and Jordan take a closer look at these modes and explain why – and when – you'll be glad to have them on your camera.

Ten years ago this month Panasonic and Olympus announced a new concept called Micro Four Thirds. We're now on the brink of full-frame mirrorless from at least one major player, so perhaps it's a good time to take a look back at where it all started – and how far we've come.

At a high-profile launch event in New York, Samsung took the wraps off its next Note device. The Galaxy Note 9 borrows the S9+'s 12MP dual-aperture dual-cam, with OIS in both cameras and an emphasis on AI-enhanced shooting modes.

One of the most keenly-awaited lenses for a while, the new Pentax D FA* 50mm F1.4 is finally here, and we've been using it for a few days. In this article, we're updating our initial impressions on the basis of our recent shooting with the K-1 II.

This week we take a look at one of the most unusual optics we've seen for quite a while. The Laowa 24mm F14 Macro Probe lens may look like something out of a science fiction movie, but as Chris and Jordan discover, it opens the door to some pretty cool photo opportunities.